Georgia is a Southeastern state of United States and is 24th largest state. Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia state. The state is bordered by several states namely Tennessee, North & South Carolina, Alabama and Florida. A part of eastern border lies along the Atlantic Ocean and forms the coastal area. The state offers a diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna for the nature lovers and explorers. It also has several state parks, historic sites, forests, beaches that offer scenic views and lot of activities throughout year. In this post we are sharing our experience about exploring Scenic waterfalls of North or Upstate Georgia, USA.
We have given details on how to reach these falls, the trails and hikes. We rated these hikes on the scale of 1-5. 5 being the most difficult.
Amicalola Falls
Amicalola Falls is a beautiful 725-feet tall cascading waterfall located in the Amicalola Falls State Park of North Georgia. It is located northeast of Dawsonville and within the Chattahoochee National Forest. The state park features a visitor center as soon as you enter the park where one can seek park information and buy souvenirs. There is also a restroom located near the visitor center. The 8-mile Appalachian trail which is one of the most famous trails in the park, starts from near the visitor center, takes one past the waterfalls to the Springer Mountain. There is picnic area for visitors and playground for kids near the visitor center. The park also features a lodge for overnight accommodations. One can buy $5 Georgia state park day pass that covers more than one state park admission for the same day of purchase.
Directions
From Dawsonville, one can take highway 53 west, take 1st exit to GA-183, then take 1st exit to GA-52 East and finally turn left onto Amicalola Falls State Park road. From Dawsonville, one can also take Shoal Creek road and take slightly left to join GA-136 West, then slight right onto GA-136 W/GA-183, take first exit to GA-52 East and finally turn left onto Amicalola Falls State Park road.
Hiking Trail
Top of the Falls
One can experience 3 different views of the waterfalls namely top, middle and base view. Visitors also have choice of viewing the falls either from an easily accessible trail or a strenuous one involving several stairs. From visitor center, one can drive to the top of the falls parking lot. From the parking lot, it’s only about 500 feet walk where one get to see the top of the waterfall with an amazing view of the surrounding nature. We would rate the difficulty as 0.1 on a scale of 5. The strenuous trail with stairs is just beside the top of the falls which can be used to reach the middle and base of the fall if open and interested.
Middle View
You can then drive back from top of the falls parking lot towards visitor center and make a stop at the parking lot for middle view of the falls. This is just 0.3 miles away from top of the falls parking lot. The trail is around 0.3 miles hike (one way) from the parking lot and will take around 15 mins. The view was magnificent. One can use the boardwalk to cross the waterfalls and reach its base for another magnificent view of the falls. We would rate the difficulty as 1 on a scale of 5.
Base View
Next you can drive back towards visitor center and follow route to reflecting pool which is past the picnic area. If the water is still, you probably may get to see the waterfall reflecting in the pool. There is also a trail from the reflecting pool to the base of the waterfall. The trail is around another 0.5 miles (one way), involves some strenuous hike but is worth it. We would rate the difficulty as 2 on a scale of 5. The observation deck at the base offers mesmerizing view of the waterfalls surrounded by the lush green trees. All the trails are paved, and the park is very well maintained.
Helton Creek Falls
Helton Creek Falls is another beautiful, family friendly cascading waterfall located in the Union County of Georgia. Just like Amicalola Falls, it is also located within the Chattahoochee National Forest area. There is no admission fee to the waterfall and it is open all round the year. The parking lot is very small and can hold around 6-8 vehicles.
Directions
From Blairsville, one can take US-129 South/US-19 South, turn left onto State route 180, turn right onto GA-348 East, then turn right onto Hatchet Creek Road and finally continue onto Helton Creek Road to access the parking lot. From Helen, one can head west and take GA-75 North toward White Strasse, turn left onto GA-75 Alt North, turn right onto GA-348 West, then turn left onto Hatchet Creek Road and finally continue onto Helton Creek Road to access the parking lot.
Note: The 2-mile narrow road from Hatchet Creek Road till the parking lot is unpaved with gravel and pot holes on it but is drivable.
Hiking Trail
The hike from the parking lot to the waterfalls is around 0.3 miles (one way). It is not paved but is easy hike and well-marked. One can even take kids to the base of the falls but with some caution as it may be slippery if wet. We would rate the difficulty as 0.5 on a scale of 5.
Trahlyta Falls
Trahlyta Falls is a beautiful 65-75 feet tall cascading waterfall located inside the Vogel State Park in North Georgia. The Vogel State park itself is located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest. The waterfall is located at the outlet of the Trahlyta Lake. As this is located inside the Vogel State Park, there is a $5 park fees but if you have already visited another Georgia State park and have purchased the day pass already, then you can enter for free. Plenty of parking available near visitor center.
Directions
From Blairsville, one can take US-19 South/US-129 South for around 10 miles and then take a right to the Vogel State Park Road. From Helen, one can head west on GA-75 North /GA-17 North toward White Strasse, turn left onto GA-75 Alt North, turn right onto GA-348 West, turn left onto State route 180, then turn left onto US-129 South/US-19 South and finally take left onto Vogel State Park Road.
Hiking Trail
One can park their vehicle in the parking lot near the Vogel State Park visitor center. From there the hike to Trahlyta Falls is around 0.4 miles (one way). One can walk on the Vogel State Park road opposite of the entrance and then join the unpaved Trahlyta Lake Trail which then takes you along the shore of the Trahlyta Lake with some beautiful views of the lake. Then take a right onto Trahlyta Falls Spur trail towards the dam. The view from the Trahlyta Falls Spur Trail facing towards the visitor center is very scenic and picturesque.
You will notice a sign board displaying “Trahlyta Falls” just around the small dam. From here the hike is around 0.2 miles to the observation deck of the waterfalls. The deck offers an amazing of the cascading waterfalls.
Though not recommended but if interested, one can take the unofficial trail down to the base of the waterfalls for another stunning view. We would rate the overall trail difficulty as 1 to 1.5 on a scale of 5.
Further you can also complete the one-mile loop trail around the lake back to visitor center. The view around the lake would absolutely be more scenic especially during autumn.
Anna Ruby Falls
Anna Ruby Falls is a very beautiful and attractive twin waterfall located in the White County near Helen, Georgia. The twin waterfalls are formed by two different creeks namely Curtis Creek and York Creek. The Curtis Creek falls from a height of 150 feet and the York Creek from a height of 50 feet. They both merge and form the Smith Creek at the base of the waterfall which then flows along the trail. The waterfalls is near to Unicoi State Park within the Chattahoochee National Forest
There is a $3 per person admission fees to the falls in addition to the Georgia State Park fee that you may pay to enter the Unicoi State Park which is the only route to access the waterfalls. There is a big parking lot and a visitor center.
Directions
From Helen, one can head west on GA-17 North/ GA-75 North toward White Strasse, turn right onto GA-356 East, then turn slight left onto Anna Ruby Falls Road and finally turn left to stay on Anna Ruby Falls road to reach its entrance.
Hiking Trail
The hike to the waterfalls is around 0.5 mile (one way) and is moderate. The trail is paved, well maintained and very scenic. Smith Creek flows alongside of the trail make it look even more scenic and beautiful. The paved hike starts from Visitor center. As you walk along the way, one would cross a small bridge with some beautiful view of the cascades formed by the Smith Creek.
There are two observation decks at the base of the waterfall. One offers a distant but complete view of the twin falls while the other offers a closer view of the same. There is a bridge that takes the visitors from the one deck to the other. One can also sit one the wooden benches located on the deck and relax while enjoying the beautiful view of the waterfalls. We would rate the difficulty of the hike as 1.5 on a scale of 5.
More information on the waterfalls can be found at United States Forest Service official site
Crow Creek Falls
Crow Creek Falls is a small 15-20 feet tall roadside waterfall located in the Clayton, Georgia. It is formed by a series of cascades as the Crow Creek flows into the Seed Lake. The 3-mile road from the start of Crow Creek Road to the waterfalls is unpaved and located on the mountains with a lot of curves, dirt and gravel on it.
Directions
From Wilke Store, one can head northeast on GA-197 north toward Crystal Goldmine Drive, then turn right onto Burton Dam Road, and finally take right and drive on Crow Creek Road for 3 miles unpaved road. From Lakemont, head southeast on Old 441 South/ S Main Street towards Ms Lamars Hill lane, take slight right onto Lake Rabun Road, Continue onto Seed Lake Road, then continue onto Burton Dam road and finally take left onto Crow Creek Road and drive for 3 miles on unpaved road.
Hiking Trail
As this is a roadside waterfall, one can experience the waterfall from the side of the Crow Creek road and no hike is required. The waterfall is small but beautiful. Just be cautious on the Crow Creek road as its unpaved and with lot of curves.
They also say that there is an Upper Crow Creek Falls with some hike but we couldn’t locate its trail for some reason.
Tallulah Falls
Tallulah Falls is a series of five waterfalls that cascade through the Tallulah Gorge which is a 1000-foot deep gorge formed by the Tallulah River. It is located inside Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls town of Georgia. The five waterfalls are L’Eau d’Or Falls, Tempesta Falls, Hurricane Falls, Oceana Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. All five waterfalls are together referred to as Tallulah Falls. There is a visitor center located inside the park and the trail to the overlooks is located right behind the visitor center. The park entrance will need a $5 admission fee per vehicle if you do not have one already for the day. There is plenty of parking area near the visitor center.
Directions
From Clayton, one can take US-23 South/US-441 South and then turn left onto Jane Hurt Yarn Road to reach the Tallulah Falls Visitor Center. From Clarksville, one can take Old Historic US 441 North and join US-23 North/US-441 North and then turn right onto Jane Hurt Yarn Road to access the visitor center.
Hiking Trail
The hike starts from behind the visitor center. There are 4 overlooks located behind the visitor center. One can first head right on the Tallulah Gorge/North Rim trail and follow the signs towards L’Eau d’Or Falls overlook#2 and overlook#3. Once you hike for around 0.2 miles, you will reach to overlook#3 from where you can see one angle of the gorge and the L’Eau d’Or Falls.
L’Eau d’Or Falls
You can then walk few feet down to overlook#2 which offers front facing angle of the L’Eau d’Or Falls and the gorge.
From overlook#2, you go the Hurricane Falls overlook or base/floor of the gorge or even take the loop.
If you plan to take the 2.5-mile Gorge floor trail, you need to have permit from Jane Hurt Yane Interpretive Center which is free but only 100 passes are given each day. Hike down the North Rim staircase (310 steps) to access the suspension bridge. This is a strenuous hike especially if you plan to return via the same trail. The other way is to take the loop trail via South Rim staircase followed by South Rim trail to get back.
As you hike down the staircase, one will reach a suspension bridge. The bridge is located around 80 feet above the gorge and offers spectacular views of the gorge and the top of the Hurricane Falls.
Hurricane Falls
Once you cross the bridge, you will see a sign board displaying trail direction to Hurricane Falls, Gorge Floor and South Rim. Take the Hurricane Falls trail/staircase (221 steps) to the observation deck. From here one can experience the beautiful Hurricane Falls and the Gorge.
If interested, one can also take the South Rim staircase (347 steps) from suspension bridge to access South Rim trail and then take North Rim Trail to reach back to the visitor center (also called as the suspension bridge loop). Or you can climb back around 530 steps to reach back to the overlook#2 and then head back to the visitor center.
To the left of the visitor center are the overlook#1 and overlook#1A. From overlook#1, one can get a obstructed view of the Hurricane Falls, Suspension Bridge and Gorge. This is just behind the visitor center.
Overlook#1A is another 0.3 miles from overlook#1. From this overlook, you can get a view of the Oceana Falls and the beautiful Gorge.
Check out our other post for waterfalls in South Carolina and North Carolina
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